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Don’t miss our contract cost and price analysis course in May

Georgia Tech’s course on the Fundamentals of Cost and Price Analysis (CON 170) features an in-depth review of the market research process.  By attending, students gain fundamental quantitative pricing skills.

The 10-day course is being offered on May 13 – 24, 2019 on the Tech campus in the Global Learning Center in Midtown Atlanta.  Registration details can be seen here.

Attendees will learn how to accomplish Cost-Volume-Profit analysis, calculate Contribution Margin Estimates, and develop Cost Estimating Relationships to achieve effective price analysis pursuant to FAR Subpart 15.4.  These are the skills needed to negotiate pricing of contracts, subcontracts, and contract modifications.

Georgia Tech’s course includes an examination of the regulations and processes governing the use of cost analysis and requiring certified cost and pricing data.

After learning the basic elements of price and cost analysis, students receive instruction on how to build and defend a pre-negotiation objective, including a minimum and maximum pricing objective with a Weighted Guidelines Assessment.  Students also learn how to defend pricing objectives by practicing face-to-face negotiations.

By attending, you’ll learn how to:

  • Identify the Government’s Pricing Objective
  • Review an Independent Government Cost Estimate
  • Apply Price-Related Factors
  • Review General Cost Principles on Allowability
  • Evaluate Direct and Indirect Costs
  • Determine the Applicability of Cost and Price Analysis
  • Practice Cost and Price Analysis Techniques
  • Conduct Cost Realism Analysis

Attendees receive expert instruction, a printed guide to be used back on the job, valuable handouts, and exclusive web-based resources.  A complimentary breakfast is provided each morning, along with snacks throughout each class day.

This is a federal core course, required for FAC-C and DAWIA certification.  Register here.

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech is an official Defense Acquisition University (DAU) equivalency training provider.  Georgia Tech’s coursework also is recognized by the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI).

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2 modules of popular FAR course offered in April

The focus will be on how the government plans and forms its contracts when The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech rolls out two courses in April 2019.  Both government contracting officials and government contractors will benefit from these course offerings.

The comprehensive five-day class, “Contract Planning in the FAR” (CON 090-2) will be presented April 8 through 12, 2019.

Then, on April 29 through May 3, “Contract Formation in the FAR” (CON 090-3) will be presented.

Whether you represent government or industry, this is your chance to learn how the Government plans and awards its contracts for the acquisition of products and services.
  • As a member of the government’s acquisition team, don’t you need to know how to conduct acquisition planning — and award contracts — properly?
  • As a contractor, wouldn’t you like to gain insights into the government’s contract planning and awards processes?

Both courses will be presented at Georgia Tech’s world-class Global Learning Center in midtown Atlanta.  Course and registration details for the courses can be found by clicking on the following links:

Benefits of attendance include expert instruction, a printed student guide to be used back on the job, valuable handouts, and exclusive electronic resources.  In addition, a complimentary breakfast is provided each morning, along with snacks throughout each day.

Improve Your Win Rate
Government and industry representatives sit side-by-side in small group settings to learn government contracting fundamentals at Georgia Tech’s Global Learning Center.

For details on all of Georgia Tech’s government contracting classes, including the full FAR Fundamentals course series, please visit http://www.pe.gatech.edu/Subjects/Acquisition-Government-Contracting.

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Learn how the government administers its contracts during week of June 24th

Now you have the opportunity to attend  a week-long course at Georgia Tech that comprehensively covers the federal contract administration process.  

The course — Contract Administration in the FAR — begins Monday, June 24 and concludes Friday, June 28, 2019. Registration details may be found at: https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/con-090-4-contract-administration-far.

Students work in teams to answer questions and solve problems involving contract administration.
Who Should Attend
  • Government contracting officials will learn not only the rules but the best practices in contract administration. And, this course satisfies required FAC-C and DAWIA certification programs.
  • Business people, including those to aspire to become federal contractors, will learn how to use the power of being an incumbent to win future contracts as well as how to protect contractual interests.
How You Will Benefit

You will learn:

  • The fundamental concepts of government contract administration.
  • The rights of the parties when contract performance is not timely.
  • Both the government’s and the contractor’s rights when contract performance comes into question.
  • The policies and procedures for preparing and processing contract modifications.
  • How to apply the requirements of applicable contract clauses in various contracting scenarios.
  • The applicable payment clauses and invoicing procedures.
  • The policies and procedures for filing and processing contract disputes and appeals.
  • The policies and procedures pertaining to the complete or partial termination of contracts for the convenience of the government or for default.
  • All pertinent parts of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) having to do with contract administration.
Content
  • Fundamentals of contract administration
  • Contract modifications
  • Administration of selected terms and conditions
  • Delays and how to handle them
  • Quality assurance
  • Payment and cost allowability
  • Disputes and appeals
  • Terminations — for convenience and for default
  • Closeout procedures and requirements
Materials, Resources and Amenities

Each student receives a printed Student Guide, exercises, updated supplemental information, and exclusive access to web-based student resources. A complimentary breakfast is provided each morning, along with snacks throughout each day.

Additional Information

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech (The Academy) is an approved equivalency training provider to the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) and the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI).  Our courses satisfy both the FAC-C and the DAWIA certification programs.  The coursework also provides students the opportunity to earn continuing education unit credits (CEUs) for acquisition and contracting professionals as well as business professionals pursuing contract opportunities in the federal contracting arena.

More Information and To Register

For more information on this course, please visit: https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/con-090-4-contract-administration-far

 

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We were your source for news about government contracting in 2018

News articles on The Academy’s web site were read 79,583 times in 2018.

Compared to 2017, that represents a 37% increase in content viewed on our web site.

To you — our students, our clients, and visitors — we say Thank You!

We monitor visits to our web site to determine what interests our readers.  Some of the most popular web content was read hundreds and hundreds of times!  Just in case you missed something important last year, listed below are the top 15 most popular news stories, with each one hyper-linked to the full article.

2018’s Top Stories
  1. Higher limits on micropurchase, simplified acquisition thresholds okayed by CAAC
  2. Common feedback to unsuccessful bidders
  3. A practical program manager’s guide to requests for equitable adjustment
  4. SAM hacked: New vendor registrations require paper documentation
  5. When competitors see bid info, the public loses
  6. New rule allows other direct costs and order level materials on GSA Schedule task orders
  7. GAO sustains protest of $771 million Defense Intelligence Agency contract
  8. OTA contracts are the new cool thing in DoD acquisition
  9. How to cut costs and improve performance
  10. GAO sustains Oracle’s ‘other transaction authority’ protest
  11. GAO looks at NAICS code assignments, SBA clarifications, and industry views
  12. Bribes and kickbacks at Joint Base Charleston lead to sentencing
  13. Former COR and a contractor at Eglin Air Force Base plead guilty to conspiracy and bribery
  14. FAR rule implements higher dollar threshold for GAO’s protest jurisdiction over DoD, NASA, Coast Guard task orders
  15. Veterans Affairs wasted close to $2 billion on failed IT projects
The 15 Hottest Topics

What were the most popular topics viewed on The Academy’s web site during 2018?  They are listed below, each hyper-linked to corresponding resources:

  1. Negotiating Rules (10 basic bargaining rules followed by win/win negotiators)
  2. Simplified Acquisition (an explanation of what it is)
  3. Authority for Modifying a Contract (the rules for contract mods)
  4. Interagency Acquisition and GWACs (an explanation, with resources)
  5. Other Transaction Authority (a contract vehicle, growing in popularity, used to help federal agencies rapidly incorporate new technologies)
  6. Buy American Act (news of recent developments in the federal preference for the purchase of domestic supplies and the incorporation of domestic materials into construction projects)
  7. Bribery, Kickbacks and Fraud (news of corruption in government contracting)
  8. Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (trends in LPTA contracting)
  9. Rule of Two (what to do when the CO reasonably expects that at least two eligible small businesses will submit offers and that the award can be made at a fair and reasonable price)
  10. Fat Leonard (developing news about the contract corruption case involving more than 60 admirals and hundreds of other U.S. Navy officers)
  11. Fair and Reasonable Pricing (an explanation of this government standard)
  12. Acquisition Reform (news of the latest developments designed to streamline the federal acquisition Process)
  13. Acquisition Training (the need, the requirements, and the resources)
  14. Micropurchasing (news involving micropurchases)
  15. Acquisition Workforce (developments impacting the government’s acquisition workforce)
Worldwide Interest in the Contracting Academy

While 80 percent of visitors to The Academy’s web site come from all 50 of the United States and the District of Columbia, our analysis shows that personnel on U.S. military bases around the world — as well as contracting officials from federal agencies such as USAID, CDC and the State Department — are among the many international visitors to our site.

The Contracting Education Academy’s web site is popular worldwide. Last year (2018), 50,184 visitors consulted the Academy’s site 60,281 times — viewing our site’s content 79,583 times. Compared to the previous year (2017), these numbers represent a 49% increase in visitors, a 44% increase in visits, and a 37% increase in the content viewed. Our visitors came from all 50 states and 182 countries.
A Pair of New Year’s Resolutions

What do we recommend to you for the New Year?  Two things:

  1. Keep visiting The Academy’s web site for the very latest news and information on government contracting — there is new content posted every business day!  Bookmark this site: http://contractingacademy.gatech.edu/category/government-contracting-news
  2. Stay in touch with our latest training and educational offerings by regularly visiting our course and workshop listing here: http://contractingacademy.gatech.edu/training

Happy New Year!

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Contracting Officer Representative course coming-up week of March 18th

Contracting officer’s representatives, program/project managers, contracting officers, and industry contracting personnel — all should attend the Contracting Education Academy’s popular 5-day course offering entitled the Contracting Officer Representative and the Contingency Contracting Environment.
Students attending Georgia Tech’s classes work in teams to tackle real-life contracting problems.
Course Description

The Contracting Officer’s Representative course (COR 222), coupled with the Contingency Contracting Environment class (COR 206), provides a comprehensive review and detailed instruction on the role, responsibilities, authority, and limitations of authority of the federal government’s Contracting Officer Representative (COR).  Students learn the fundamentals of contracting regulations, types, phases, and other elements of contract administration.  Students are also coached on the ethical and legal factors that impact COR responsibilities in the normal course of business and in the Contingency Contracting Environment.

Upcoming Dates

The Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech is offering the COR course (COR 222/206) on March 18-22, 2019.  This course is taught at Georgia Tech’s world-class Global Learning Center in midtown Atlanta.

Who Should Attend

Contracting officer’s representatives, program/project managers, contracting officers, and industry contracting personnel who interface with contracting officers and contracting officer’s representatives.

Registration

For details on how to register, please visit: https://pe.gatech.edu/courses/cor-206222-contracting-officer-representative-course-and-contingency-contracting-environment

How You Will Benefit

You will learn:

  • How to review contract terms and conditions.
  • Each party’s role and responsibility in contract administration.
  • Proper documentation and approvals for contract changes and modifications.
  • How to monitor contract expenditures.
  • Contract close-out methodology.
  • How to manage ethical and legal issues in the contingency contracting environment.
Content
  • Recognizing the COR’s responsibilities in acquisition mission support planning.
  • Understanding the contract award process.
  • Tracking contract expenditures.
  • Monitoring contract schedule compliance.
  • Analyzing proposed contract changes.
  • Identifying the unique characteristics and monitoring protocols for construction contracts, major systems and R & D acquisitions.
  • Evaluating a contractor’s compliance with performance terms and conditions.
  • Handling cultural taboos in a contingency environment.
  • The process for reporting bribery, kickbacks and other illegal acts.
Materials

Provided to each student are a printed guide book with supplemental learning material, exercises, case studies, and handouts, and exclusive web-based materials.

What Students Say About This Course

Here’s a small sampling of feedback from students who have attended Georgia Tech’s COR 206/222 course:

  • “I got detailed knowledge and understanding of COR and CO duties and responsibilities.  I now have the knowledge I need to perform as a COR.”
  • “A very well-taught course.”
  • “The instructors are very knowledgeable.”
  • “Professional training providing insights and practical examples.”
  • “I valued the exercises — they helped a lot!  A wonderful course!”
  • “Great course — great instructors!”
  • “Excellent instruction.”
  • “I valued the format, facilities, and the instructor’s expertise.”
  • “Invaluable information — a mix of academic and real-world views.  Outstanding job.”
  • “Great job.  The knowledge of the instructors was remarkable.”
Additional Information

DAU logoThe Contracting Education Academy at Georgia Tech (The Academy) is an approved equivalency training provider to the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) and provides continuing education training to Acquisition and Government Contracting professionals as well as to business professionals working for government contractors or pursuing opportunities in federal contracting.  This course is DAU-equivalent training satisfying both FAC-C and DAWIA certification programs.

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Atlanta, GA 30308
info@ContractingAcademy.gatech.edu
Phone: 404-894-6109
Fax: 404-410-6885

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